Tasty, testing and English to its wing tips

A devoted parent, a conscientious mate, a strategic flyer and a joy on the table — the grey partridge gets Ed Wills’s vote for the best quarry

Gamekeeper

Looking after a wild bird estate can be a nerve-shredding experience, but it is so much more satisfying and rewarding than the reared world

Rats, rodenticides and resistance: what next?

Complacency is not an option when dealing with rodent infestations but there are plenty of ways to limit unwelcome visitors on a shoot

Stalking Diary

An early-season roar is not always the sign of a good rut and it brings back memories of a stag almost entirely lost to a steep Scottish hillside

Great sporting lives

Celebrating the achievements of the most remarkable Shots of yesteryear

Country Diary

Almost everybody agrees that Britain needs more ponds, not least because a few teal and some mallard add fine variety to shoot days

A battle of the HPRs

A unique team challenge will showcase the talents of 11 hunt, point and retrieve breeds; David Tomlinson takes a look at the contenders

What's good for the goose...

Soldier Palmer bolsters sporting and farming relations with a successful feral greylag flight

It's game on for BGA this season

The past three years have been a rollercoaster ride for the British Game Alliance, but Matt Cross learns of its big plans for the future

Would I call this proper wildfowling? Foreshore

On his pilgrimage beyond the sea wall on opening day, Gethin Jones reflects on whether wildfowling in September is worthy of the name

Stalking Diary

After a quiet morning on the hill watching the roe, a chance to educate visitors about deer management provides a small win and a PR coup

It's all about the seductive wobble

Heading for the aptly named Pike Bay, Julian Schmechel sets out to tempt the fish to his line with the use of handmade copper spoons

The uphill struggle for Ireland's red grouse

The cackling of the ‘heather hen’ has become a rare sound on Irish moors, but people are battling for its survival, says Barry Stoffell

Autumn's no time to be sloe on the uptake

John Wright reveals that the fruit of the spiky blackthorn is only good for a single recipe, but it’s a one-hit wonder that foragers rate

Dawn of the season at dusk

Wildfowler and conservationist Richard Negus explains the reasons behind his alternative plans for the opening day of season this year

Freshwater molluscs flexing their mussels

Pollution and overharvesting are a major threat to our mussels, but Kielder’s hatchery is working to boost numbers on the North Tyne

A small taste of things to come

A foreshore foray on 1 September may not be every fowler’s idea of time well spent, but early-season flights certainly whet the appetite for the months of sport ahead

Quelling an attack of the munties

Greedy muntjac are raiding feeders and disturbing fragile flushing points, so it’s time for a little pre-season troubleshooting

Diamond dogs are on point

Richard Negus is a spellbound spectator as the Pointer Club marks its birthday in style

Out of sight and out of mind

Forget camouflage clothing and expensive equipment, follow Mike Swan’s tips on keeping a low profile when wildfowling

Can't buy fieldcraft

Mat Manning swaps hi-tech hardware for a basic break-barrel and fieldcraft during a refreshingly uncluttered walk through the woods

You're not going to need a bigger boat

The cool waters around the UK are increasingly populated by sharks, so Nick Fisher sets out with a trusted team to try to catch one. Just don’t mention Jaws…

A trailer for a Heston special

With the harvest spaced out like in years past, shooting over stubbles from a hide disguised as a bale helps Tom Payne build a decent bag

A long wait, then Stan's the man

It’s the first duck flight of the season and a young springer shows his mettle, to Jack Bell’s delight

Early stags: a dead red redemption

With the roe rut over, Chris Dalton switches focus to the reds and sets out to cull a few young male deer — if he can find them

Lockdown leads to a few unlikely recruits

COVID-19 resulted in renewed interest in the countryside and lots of mess but it might not have all been a total disaster, says Gethin Jones

How the sport of trap shooting really took off

Diggory Hadoke charts the history of trapshooting from the days of top hats to the era of sophisticated machines

Choosing the right trainer

Ellena Swift explains how owners can ensure their aspiring gundogs learn the right skills

For love, not money

When a stubble comes under siege, Tom Payne jumps at the chance to do what he is passionate about, rather than simply what pays the bills

Scout's honour in the battlefield

A new permission offers Simon Garnham the perfect chance to hone his keen young labrador’s skills while protecting a farmer’s livelihood